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Everton Draw Shows Progress May Not Come Easily for Tottenham This Season

Thomas CooperFeatured ColumnistAugust 30, 2015

Ryan Mason was prominently involved in Tottenham Hotspur's 0-0 draw with Everton. The midfielder played well but was unable to finish the chances that came his way.
Ryan Mason was prominently involved in Tottenham Hotspur's 0-0 draw with Everton. The midfielder played well but was unable to finish the chances that came his way.Julian Finney/Getty Images

WHITE HART LANE, London — Mauricio Pochettino knows his Tottenham Hotspur team should have earned more than a 0-0 draw from Saturday's meeting with Everton.

He knew it as they repeatedly came close to taking a first-half lead, turning away from the pitch in frustration as the number of chances missed—often denied by the formidable Tim Howard—piled up. He knew it, too as the match wound down and his team's superiority began to ebb amid a number of momentum-stunting decisions against them by referee Mike Jones—the frustration now giving way to anger as the Argentinian and his coaching staff repeatedly remonstrated with the fourth official.

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SHOT MAP: Tottenham have attempted 19 shots, but can't yet find a way past Tim Howard. http://t.co/k4MgnRYUQ3

Pochettino certainly knew it afterwards as he sat glumly in front of the assembled media. The match ended with both teams having shared equal possession, per BBC Sport, but the more representative statistic was Tottenham's final tally of 20 shots to their opponent's three.

"We deserve more. We were better than Everton."

Toffees boss Roberto Martinez knew it, too. He was comparatively pleased to escape with a point.

Roberto Martinez was far the more content of the two managers after the game.
Roberto Martinez was far the more content of the two managers after the game.JUSTIN TALLIS/Getty Images

"Well, more than happy," the Spaniard offered in his own post-match press conference. "I was very satisfied because in this performance we had to show a lot of character and a lot of personality that don't go into any technical, tactical aspects."

What this says about Everton's ambition as a side right now is up for debate (the fan groups recently protesting the club's board, per BBC Sport, may have something to say here).

Martinez's citing of "the lessons that we learned last season in Europe" are perhaps some measure of progress, though. "Probably that would have been a game that last season we would have lost," he said of their greater resilience.

Progress for Tottenham—both from 2014-15 and within the new campaign—is proving difficult to measure given their current inconsistency.

After iffy efforts in the draws with Stoke City and Leicester City, Spurs' defensive performance was more in line with the solid opening-day showing at Manchester United—one in which the 1-0 loss was not a reflection of the back four's work.

Spurs' defensive display was much improved from the previous couple of weeks. They more than stood their ground against Everton's biggest threats like Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley.
Spurs' defensive display was much improved from the previous couple of weeks. They more than stood their ground against Everton's biggest threats like Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley.Julian Finney/Getty Images

There were a few concerning moments—notably Kyle Walker requiring rescue by Hugo Lloris after getting caught out by Tom Cleverley. However, centre-backs Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen were far better prepared for the danger posed by an attack led by fellow Belgium international Romelu Lukaku than they were their previous two opponents. The aggressiveness of the restored left-back Danny Rose set the tone in denying Everton scope to create on the flanks, while further forward, Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele were especially eager in their preemptive attempts to shut the visitors down.

Alas, after two weeks in which Spurs had been able to find the goals to at least give them leads to blow, like against Man United, they again lacked a touch of composure in front of goal.

That's all the more frustrating given the quality of opportunities they often created. Nacer Chadli, Harry Kane and Ryan Mason will all particularly feel they should have done better, having done well to get into shooting positions. Still, again, Howard's work narrowing the angles in these moments was exemplary.

Tottenham Hotspur @SpursOfficial

.@RyanMason: "We're disappointed not to win. We created enough chances to win & we played well. I should've tucked away my second chance."

Despite his disappointment at Spurs' failure to yet secure a win in four matches, Pochettino has been largely happy with his side's performances. Except, now the only complaint was not his pre-match concern at the errors of previous weeks, but the inability to find the back of the net. "For us now is the difficult moment but we've shown we are a very strong team—good mentality and playing well—only we need to score."

As much as mistakes cost Tottenham in their last two matches, the argument has been there that having more to call on in attack could have seen tighter situations avoided. Pochettino brought up the boost and improvement he hopes new men Clinton Njie and Heung-Min Son will soon bring here. While not ruling out further signings before Tuesday's transfer deadline, he is also looking forward to being able to focus firmly on developing his squad.

"Maybe when the transfer window is over I think that we are all happy and start to work with the real squad," he said, indicating the relief he will feel at it finally shutting.

Thomas Cooper @Thomas__Cooper

New Spurs signing Heung-Min Son prior to and after being introduced at White Hart Lane. @br_uk #COYS #PremierLeague http://t.co/zOL0XkM1n2

If Njie and/or Son are able to settle quickly, Spurs may quickly find the consistent quality in attack that has been lacking—both in terms of their ability to frequently get at teams and their ability to punish them once in promising positions.

Mousa Dembele embodies the uncertainty that surrounds even some of the brighter aspects of Spurs' start to the season.
Mousa Dembele embodies the uncertainty that surrounds even some of the brighter aspects of Spurs' start to the season.Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

If they need a little time, though—and Spurs' varying experience with foreign recruits such as Chadli, Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado these last few years has shown this could be the case—finding a satisfactory balance may take longer.

Enforced though some have been, the numerous changes prior to and during games so far has underlined how last season's preferences are no longer necessarily the same.

Pochettino is still figuring out which of the new faces work well with the old, and in what permutation of the 4-2-3-1 formation he most commonly deploys in an attempt to incorporate his squad's various attackers. A strategic and tactical challenge that will be intensified by the more recent arrivals.

Take Dembele. Mostly a back-up in Pochettino's first year, he has begun the season well playing in a nominal right-midfield role.

Indeed, his work helping dictate Spurs' tempo, both on and off the ball, was missed after he went off injured against Everton. Still, starting him has meant and will mean Spurs playing with less pace and width further forward.

Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff will have plenty to think about during the upcoming international break.
Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff will have plenty to think about during the upcoming international break.Julian Finney/Getty Images

Central attacking midfield has been occupied at different points by Dele Alli, Chadli, Eriksen, Erik Lamela and Mason. Though pleased with the latter's typically bustling performance there on Saturday, Pochettino admitted it is not a job the usually deeper-positioned midfielder is likely to occupy too often. But the fact that Mason got the nod is evidence enough his boss had reason to play him there ahead of others in this instance.

Tottenham remain a team capable of beating anyone on their day. It is putting all the pieces into place so these days can occur on a more regular basis that is where the problem lies.

Figuring out this puzzle is likely to take Pochettino a little more time yet. He has to hope that, in the process, his team does not fall too far behind in a Premier League table steadily beginning to take shape.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.